So this is what it feels like to be a famous photographer. (To be honest, it feels a little silly.) (Also, I’m wantonly misinterpreting “famous”, and possibly also “photographer.” And maybe “feels like.”)
Sweet, sweet fame & fortune
Posted by Ben on August 31, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/sweet-sweet-fame-fortune/
I liked the book better than the movie
But the movie is (movies are) still pretty good. Don’t think I’m complaining. Because I’m not. Not about that, anyway. (Also, his event schedule looks pretty desolate right now, but if you get a chance, the “live event” is better than either the book or the movie.)
Posted by Ben on August 29, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/i-liked-the-book-better-than-the-movie/
Word clouds
Word (and tag) clouds are fairly useless (but interesting) way of arranging information. Wordle is your go-to webapp for creating word clouds from just about anything. (In the right hands, it might actually allow for a useful graphical representation of word frequency.) In any case, it’s certainly an interesting time-sink. Play with the source, the […]
Posted by Ben on August 29, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/word-clouds/
Visit the city of shadows
Mysterious, but not.
Posted by Ben on August 28, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/visit-the-city-of-shadows/
Death of Mr. Lazarescu
(2005) dir Cristi Puiu – w/ Ion Fiscuteanu as the eponymous Lazarescu, and a few other people, hospitals. Synopsis: Mr. Lazarescu feels unwell, and calls an ambulance. His neighbors harangue him for drinking, his family doesn’t want much to do with him, and various doctors, nurses, and EMTs (their Romanian equivalents, anyway) poke fun and […]
Posted by Ben on August 28, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/death-of-mr-lazarescu/
Chuck Klosterman interprets foreign students interpreting America
Perhaps the most provocative essay argued for a tie between Ernest Hemingway and O.J. Simpson. The author’s point seemed to be that Hemingway was “not the typical American,” but that Simpson sort of was. And: One person wrote about the Hummer all-terrain vehicle. This is not technically a human, but I could see her point. […]
Posted by Ben on August 27, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/chuck-klosterman-interprets-foreign-students-interpreting-america/
Compelling explanations
Winnie-the-Pooh, a panther, and a mouse rob a passer-by of $160. Also questionable: the robbers were wearing their costumes on account of “they had run out of clean clothes.” (Although… probably not actually $160, as the setting of the crime in question is Tokyo.) Related: Winnie-the-Pooh, Soviet style. (via Reuters: “Winnie-the-Pooh held for robbery?” [12 […]
Posted by Ben on August 26, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/compelling-explanations/
Sleuth
(2007) dir Kenneth Branagh, screenplay by Harold Pinter – w/ Michael Caine and Jude Law. And a fancy necklace. Synopsis: Andrew’s (Caine’s) wife has left him for Milo (Law). Though of course the paperwork’s not entirely cleaned up yet. Like a good fellow, Milo wants to have a sit-down with Andrew, a man-to-man. A nice […]
Posted by Ben on August 21, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/sleuth/
Strangely, ‘Left Behind’ isn’t
The top 10 most discarded books in hotel rooms 1. The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell 2. Don’t You Know Who I Am? by Piers Morgan 3. A Whole New World by Jordan 4. Wicked by Jilly Cooper 5. Dr Who Creatures & Demons by Justin Richard 6. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown 7. […]
Posted by Ben on August 21, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/strangely-left-behind-isnt/
Scientists tell us what we already know
Sort of. The (terribly informal) verdict: Believable: Iron Man, Batman Unbelievable: The Incredible Hulk Quote: Now, many people are aware that the most incredible thing about the Hulk is the way his pants always stay on when he expands to ten times his original volume. But did you also know: The good superhero stories require […]
Posted by Ben on August 17, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/scientists-tell-us-what-we-already-know/